3D Printing
Vocabulary
Reach each word out loud.
width
/wɪdθ/
noun
the measurement of something from side to side
Example:
I measured the width of my photo wrong and now it won't fit in the new frame I bought.
nozzle
/ˈnɒz əl/
noun
a spout; the tip of a tube where liquid is released
Example:
The nozzle on my hot glue gun was clogged and no glue would come out.
ink
/ɪŋk/
noun
the liquid used to write, draw, or print texts or images onto something
Example:
I need to print out my essay for class tomorrow, but my printer ran out of ink.
various
/ˈvɛə.ɹi.əs/
adjective
several; consisting of different things or types
Example:
The store sells various types of fruit, including apples, bananas, and oranges.
digital
/ˈdɪdʒ ɪ tl/
noun
using electronic signals or computers
Example:
The digital display showed the time in bright blue numbers.
Story
Read the story out loud or play the audio and follow along.
Audio generated by AI
3D Printing
One of my favorite hobbies is 3D printing, but what exactly is that? A standard printer uses ink to take images or text off of your computer and put it onto a piece of paper. We use printers to get a physical copy of something we already have digitally. A 3D printer works exactly the same way, except it doesn’t use ink.
A 3D printer uses filament—a long string of plastic—to create prints. It works by feeding the filament through a tube and into a burning hot nozzle. The nozzle typically operates at temperatures ranging from 200 to 500 degrees Celsius—depending on the model of your printer and what type of filament you are using. With my model and filament, I usually print at about 215 degrees Celsius. As you can imagine, the printer warms up my room a great deal.
So what can you print with a 3D printer? Anything really, but first you need a 3D model. A 3D model is a designed item that is created digitally on your computer. Think of a 3D model like a photo, except it has shape and depth—making it look lifelike. We use 3D models to design objects—like pots for plants, toys, household items, and more—and once we have a design we like, we send it to the 3D printer for printing.
It’s always so much fun to see something you’ve imagined come to life in the various stages of production. Imagine this: the manufacturer of your car designed the cupholder to be too short and too wide, so now whenever you have a tall and skinny drink in the cupholder and you take a sharp turn, it tips over and spills all over you or the carpet. How can we solve this problem?
First, you take measurements of the cupholder. Next, you design a 3D model to fit inside of the cupholder that can shrink the width of the cupholder while adding some much needed height at the same time. After you have confirmed the size and shape of the model will fit the cupholder, you send it to the printer. Once the print is complete, problem solved! Now you can enjoy a tall, skinny drink without worrying about it falling out of the cupholder and ruining your outfit or carpet.
Isn’t that awesome? You can solve just about any problem with a 3D printer. So, if you had a 3D printer, what problem would you solve?
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Written by:
Thomas
Lesson updated:
6 de noviembre de 2025